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Local baseball players announce college intentions

JORDAN HOLLAND The Marietta Times From left, Wood County Christian’s Max Miller, Parkersburg South’s Garrett Bonnett and Jared Wilson, St. Marys’ Braden Barnhart, Paden City’s Hayden Hizer, Parkersburg’s Chad Conner and Blaine Thornburg and Warren’s Chase Weihl participated in a college commitment ceremony Friday afternoon at Herb Baseball and Softball Academy.

PARKERSBURG — There’s no question the local high school baseball talent was strong this year.

Look no further than the Herb Baseball and Softball Academy where, Friday afternoon, eight area players joined in a college commitment ceremony. Participating in the ceremony were Wood County Christian’s Max Miller, Parkersburg South’s Garrett Bonnett and Jared Wilson, Parkersburg’s Chad Conner and Blaine Thornburg, Paden City’s Hayden Hizer, St. Marys’ Braden Barnhart and Warren’s Chase Weihl.

Herb Academy director Ryan Herb said the ceremony was a testament to the quality of Mid-Ohio Valley baseball.

“Pretty amazing what this class of guys has done to change the culture and expectations for area kids playing college ball,” Herb said. “They’ve made it a real tangible goal for any kid to accomplish. It’s a remarkable group of young men that dedicated themselves to that purpose. They didn’t just do this for themselves to play in college. They sincerely did it to set the example for kids for the next 20 years. They’re a special group of guys.”

Miller, a standout pitcher for the Wildcats, is headed to Cedarville.

“This is the moment you work for,” he said.

“Cedarville has everything I’ve ever wanted in a college — the size, the environment, good baseball program. I’m excited to be a part of it.”

Weihl, also a hard-throwing right-handed pitcher, is Potomac State-bound. Coincidentally enough, the other six guys all signed with Ohio Valley University.

“OVU is close to home and has a good baseball program,” said Conner, who is being looked at as a catcher. “And I love coach (Chad) Porter. He’s a good coach.”

Conner’s high school teammate Thornburg likely will develop as a pitcher or an outfielder.

“Seems like the guys improve a lot through college there, so it seems like the right choice,” the former Big Reds standout said.

After being arch rivals in high school, Conner and Thornburg teamed up with South’s Bonnett and Wilson at the academy, and now will continue playing together in college.

“I saw they were on the rise.,” Bonnett said of choosing OVU. “By our senior year they should be national championship contenders.”

Added Wilson, “I love how it’s close to home so I can always see my family and they can come watch me play.”

Bonnett and Wilson agreed that having six players from the Herb Academy program going to the same school will be beneficial.

“In this baseball environment, we’re a lot like a family,” said Wilson, who along with Bonnett, is a pitching prospect. “We depend on each other for pretty well everything. That’s the kind of relationship you have to have with your brothers in college when you’re playing.”

After going 15-37 two seasons, the Fighting Scots improved to 28-23 this past spring and appears to be a team on the rise.

“They’re an up-and-coming program,” said Hizer, who is being looked at as a middle infielder.

“It means a lot. This is what everyone in this academy wants to do one day.”

Locally, OVU’s 2017 roster included Tyler Parsons (Parkersburg South), Mitch Davis (Parkersburg Catholic), Austin Cottrell (Wirt County), Matt Houser (St. Marys), Caleb Wells (Parkersburg South) and Gunnar Smith (Warren). Next season, add six more to that list.

“They’re the ones that have worked beside me and with me,” Miller said of his teammates. “To have them with me is really something special.”

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